Court: $57,820 found in Wareham man's car to be forfeited

A Wareham man will have to forfeit $57,820 in cash that was in his car when state police stopped him on Route 25 on Wednesday, according to court records.

By CAPE COD TIMES

capecodtimes.com

By CAPE COD TIMES

Posted May. 23, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By CAPE COD TIMES
Posted May. 23, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

BOURNE — A Wareham man will have to forfeit $57,820 in cash that was in his car when state police stopped him on Route 25 on Wednesday, according to court records.

John T. McMahon Jr., 29, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Falmouth District Court to charges of operating under the influence of drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe's office quickly moved to have the seized money forfeited, which was allowed by the judge, records show.

State troopers found the money — mostly in $20 bills — in a blue gym bag in the car, court records show. Inside the bag, they also found an estimated 3 ounces of marijuana, according to the report.

Police were first alerted to McMahon because he was allegedly driving erratically and going slower than the rush hour traffic on the highway, records show. A trooper watched as he swerved and crossed into other lanes, the report states.

Once McMahon's car was stopped, Trooper Russell Patenaude wrote that he smelled a "strong odor of burnt marijuana" and "fresh marijuana" coming from the vehicle, records say. Drug paraphernalia, including roaches, pipes, a metal grinder and a bag filled with an ounce of marijuana, were in view, records say.

Outside the car, McMahon was "unsteady on his feet" and "badly swayed," according to Patenaude's report.